Read, Puma hope for smooth sailing into Miami

By AP Sports Writer

Published: April 21, 2012, 6:27 AM

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- With the frigid and violent Southern Ocean behind them, Ken Read and his Puma Ocean Racing crew are pointing their sloop Mar Mostro north. And they'll be hoping for some warm, smooth sailing when the Volvo Ocean Race heads for its only stopover in the United States.

The epic bluewater race has resembled a nautical demolition derby to both boats and sailors as it's hopscotched around the globe. Competition resumes Sunday when the six-boat fleet leaves Itajai, Brazil, for Miami.

Read would love nothing more than to have the only American-based boat be the first to reach Florida. Puma not only won the previous leg to climb back into the race, but was the only boat not to sustain major damage on the trip from New Zealand to Brazil.